Coed Y Brenin plea by Dwyfor Meirionnydd MS, Mabon ap Gwynfor
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00:00When we were in a public debate, in a public forum with the Welsh National Party back in February,
00:06the conclusion was that this was a failure and that nothing was going to happen for two or three years.
00:11Now, they are looking to make an investment of £1.2 million in this financial year,
00:17which has caused this situation.
00:19So, there is a question to ask how we have created this situation,
00:23in fact, they need to make investments of £1.3 million with £1.2 million of those investments in this financial year.
00:31How have they managed this situation?
00:34There is talk that they have moved us out of the tender,
00:37but that has not happened until May,
00:40and there is something called cliff edge at that time,
00:43where the work will have gone by April,
00:46and if no one has taken over the place,
00:49although there will be a tender, the place will have to close
00:52before someone else can come and reopen possibly within two years.
00:57If that is not good enough, when the place will have closed,
01:00it will be difficult to reopen, the brand will have lost its value.
01:03Now, the truth also for us is that if the Welsh Government has kept to its word,
01:08and has looked after Wales,
01:10and has prioritised the land,
01:12giving the community the right to buy and use it,
01:15then this would not have happened.
01:17Local governments would have been able to get the land to buy,
01:20but unfortunately, according to Plaid Cymru,
01:22they have not kept to their manifesto,
01:24because it is a two-manifesto,
01:26and we are in this situation,
01:28where the local community does not get the opportunity.
01:31I would also like to refer to one other thing,
01:33according to the list of places that Cadeirydd Cari Coyd-y-Brenin said,
01:37they show that something has gone wrong in the translation,
01:40because in English we refer to Natural Resources Wales,
01:43in Welsh, Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru.
01:45The word resource refers to something that can be exploited,
01:50not how much value it has,
01:52and how much it is possible to change its values and value it.
01:55Cyfoeth, in Welsh, means something very different,
01:58something that belongs to us,
02:00it is our natural resource.
02:02The people of Coyd-y-Brenin,
02:04the people of that area,
02:06who have made Coyd-y-Brenin what it is,
02:08will continue to keep Coyd-y-Brenin as part of their local heritage.
02:12So, my final point is that
02:15we need £1.2 million for Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru for this period.
02:20Should the Government, or should the Prime Minister,
02:23consider giving that £1.2 million to Cyfoeth Naturiol Cymru,
02:27either as a donation, or as a loan, or in some other way,
02:30in order to fill the gaps for this period,
02:33in order to keep those centres open,
02:36so that the staff do not leave,
02:38so that the centre can operate,
02:40and so that there is an opportunity for local companies and businesses
02:43to come together and take part over the next few years.
02:47And also, please, the Prime Minister,
02:49discuss with me and the local authorities
02:52in order to discuss that option, if you will.
02:55Thank you very much.